Belinda G. Galbreath, librarian

Belinda G. Galbreath, a retired Baltimore County librarian who was an accomplished storyteller, died Sunday of complications from diabetes at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air.

The lifelong Street resident was 59.

The daughter of dairy farmers, Belinda Grace Galbreath was born in Baltimore and raised on the family farm in Street.

After graduating from North Harford High School in 1970, she earned a bachelor's degree in library science in 1975 from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Ms. Galbreath, who worked for more than 30 years for the Baltimore County Public Library, began her career at Perry Hall, where she worked for many years. Her duties included conducting the children's storytelling hour.

She subsequently had been a staff librarian at the library's Parkville and White Marsh branches. She retired from the White Marsh library in 2009.

"She was a wonderful storyteller and did readings for children who came to the library. She really enjoyed children," said her sister, Marlene G. Herculson of Street. "She used lots of puppets. She was always buying them and had trunks full of them. It was a big thing with her."

Ms. Galbreath had been a lifelong member of Highland Presbyterian Church, where she had been a trustee and Sunday school teacher.

In addition to being an avid reader, she was an accomplished cross stitcher.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at her church, 701 Highland Road in Street.

In addition to her sister, Ms. Galbreath is survived by her mother, Thelma R. Galbreath of Street; a brother, Brian R. Galbreath of Street; three nephews; and a niece.